The Nyishis, residing primarily in Arunachal Pradesh, take their name from "nyi," or "human," and "shi," or "highland," and thus call themselves "people of the highlands." The Nyishis have, according to oral traditions, migrated from China's Yunnan Province along river courses to South Asia. Their origin traces back to Aathu Nyia Thanyi, a son of Abhu Thanyi, the mythological progenitor who created the universe. While Christianity has been adopted by the majority of Nyishis, some faction of the tribe still adheres to Donyi Poloism, worshipping the Sun (Donyi) and the Moon (Polo).

The Nyishi face the challenges of modernization and religious shifts, as traditional beliefs give way to Christianity among younger generations. Additionally, environmental changes threaten traditional practices like jhum cultivation, and the community's reliance on natural resources is increasingly impacted by deforestation and land-use restrictions. Balancing cultural preservation with socioeconomic advancement poses significant hurdles for the Nyishi people.